The need for a statement has come about because of BAE’s announcement that it plans to close the airfield at the end of 2012, and the government-appointed Planning Inspector’s demand for references to the airfield to be included.

The position statement assumes the closure will go ahead and the consultation outlines a number of options for managing the development. However, local sentiment is against the closure, as the Filton and Patchway area is a world centre of excellence in aerospace, supporting high-value skilled engineering jobs.

Labour councillors have not been persuaded that there is no operational future for the runway, and are robustly arguing for it to be retained as a unique asset supporting the local aerospace economy.

Group Leader Councillor Andy Perkins (Labour, Woodstock) said: “Labour Group does not accept that the airfield should be developed and will not be railroaded into commenting on the process for achieving this. We have made this crystal clear in our submission to the consultation, which will be passed on to the government-appointed inspector.”

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